FISHING IN CHEOW LAN LAKE AND THE RIVERS OF CHEOW LAN IN KHAO SOK NATIONAL PARK
Below you can read more specifically about some of the fishing techniques we use on our Giant Snakehead fishing trips to Cheow Lan Lake in
Khao Sok National Park, and our Mahseer fly fishing trips to the jungle rivers of Cheow lan in Khao Sok National Park. We have chosen to describe, in our opinion, the two most exciting ways, there are obviously others, but to stand at Cheow Lan Lake, fishing with a top water lure and see a strike from a big Giant Snakehead, or see a big Mahseer rise to your dry fly or a hard strike in a deep pool in the river, is something every fisherman should allow himself next time he/she visits Thailand, at the same time
Cheow Lan Lake and
the rivers in Khao Sok National Park, are the some of the most beautiful surroundings you can find in Thailand.
TOP-WATER LURE FISHING FOR GIANT SNAKEHEAD ON CHEOW LAN LAKE.
If you like fishing with top-water lure for powerful predator fish, you will certainly like the Giant Snakehead.
The Giant Snakehead is a monstrous fish, a top predator with extremely sharp teeth and a reputation for extreme aggression when the attacking its prey.
Thailand is one of the most popular destinations for Snakehead fishers from the rest of the world. Cheow Lan Lake inside Khao Sok National Park in southern Thailand, is a top destination for Giant Snakehead fishing.
One of the reasons is that Cheow Lan Lake was created by flooding a valley. The old jungle in this man-made lake has created excellent environments for the Giant Snakehead.
Fishing on Cheow Lan Lake is done from a drifting longtail boat, so you are casting in to the swim towards the bank. To catch the hard fighting Giant Snakehead in Cheow Lan Lake is challenging, it is important you can cast the lure exactly on the spot, because the Giant Snakehead. like to habitat snaggy areas such as over-hanging vegetation, weedy areas, and sunken logs and often stays close to the bank. They are very territorial and will often strike at anything that comes near them. It likes to stay behind snags from where it can ambush its prey.
To catch the Giant Snakehead, on top water lures is one of the best fishing techniques and commonly used in Thailand, this fishing technique with top water lures for Giant Snakehead, should come with a warning: This product is known to cause increased heart rate, sweaty palms, trembling limbs and in some cases, heart attack.
Such is the excitement of top water fishing ! One minute your lure is plop-plopping back toward the boat and the next moment it explodes like a charge of dynamite. Top water lures, is the most exciting lure fishing for Giant Snakehead because the angler see’s the strike. One moment you’re working your lure across the top and the next, a Giant snakehead violently smashes into it. The Giant Snakehead often stun their prey before swallowing it, and one top water strike will make you a believer in that.
To properly work a top water lure, cast and immediately begin your retrieve with constant cranking, it is important to have contact with the lure when it hits the water, as many times the Giant Snakehead will strike immediately. For best hooking results wait until you feel the fish before setting the hook.
SIGHT FLY FISHING FOR MAHSEER IN THE RIVERS OF CHEOW LAN IN KHAO SOK NP.
There are some significant differences to fly fishing in Thailand as opposed to fly fishing in Europe or the USA. The biggest difference is, here we catch the powerful
Thai Mahseer, on nymphs and dry flies in the most beautiful jungle rivers, Thailand can offer.
Fly fishing for Thai Mahseer is a newly developed phenomenon in Thailand. To target, the hard fighting, Thai Mahseer on fly is challenging for any fly fishermen.
You will find the best Thai Mahseer fishing, in Thailand, in the rivers of Cheow Lan in Khao Sok National Park
They are big, also as wild as can be, with an almost uncanny ability to sense danger. Partly due to the fact that not many if anyone has cast a fly to them before.
The water clarity in the rivers of Cheow Lan in
Khao Sok National Park is exceptional, especially from September to March, and the wary Mahseer can see out as well as, you can see in. Because of this, it becomes imperative to get a good cast to every fish. As a rule, you only get one chance per fish as Thai Mahseer are very unforgiving of poor presentation..
Walk slowly and quietly as possible with no unnecessary movements, clothing needs to be as neutral as possible, and fishing upstream is the best way to catch the shy Thai Mahseer. Because of the jungle background there is often no room for a back cast, so roll casting and single-hand-spay-casting techniques are good techniques to have, on the rivers of Cheow Lan in Khao Sok National Park. If you need to cross the river it is essential to cross downstream of the next pool, otherwise fish will melt away unseen by the unwary angler. Because of the water clarity, it is crucial to spot the fish before the fish spots you.
Blind casting risks spooking unseen fish which often melt away, having spotted the line or the leader in the air.
Casting to seen fish, especially big ones, is one of the most exciting facets of Mahseer fly fishing. Our guides get their thrills for the day by spotting those fish you would not have seen. Sight fishing, in the correct conditions, can prove not only a very effective tactic for Thai Mahseer it can be one of the most fun and rewarding also.
Sight fly fishing for Mahseer has a few basic principles that can be considered ground rules, for the fly fisherman.
Obviously, in order to sight fish, Polarized sunglasses will help to see the fish! To get close enough so you can casting the fly. Contrary to popular belief this is actually the hardest part of the entire equation.
You are essentially looking for a dark coloured fish against a somewhat dark background. Polarized sunglasses will give you an aide in picking out shapes such as fish and bottom structure.
When you are sight fishing, you will find that another important factor in this technique is water clarity. While gin clear water makes for challenging and exciting sight fishing, it's also important to remember clear water works both ways.
Sure it's easier to find and see the Thai Mahseer in the river, but it's also easier for the fish to see you as well, clear water will also give the fish a far better look at your flies and give them more time to determine if they want take the fly or not.
Many times predators such as Thai Mahseer will use the shadow lines and differences in light to ambush prey. It is a classic ambush technique the fish can see out into the light areas, however prey cannot see into the dark areas where the
Thai Mahseer and other predatory fish are hiding.
By running the fly parallel to the shadow line, you stand the greatest chance of having a Mahseer take it, because the Mahseer must attack fast as thy fly drifts by and therefore has less time to study what it is attacking.
Lighting is another very important factor to consider when sight fishing. Sun is a good thing, but do not rule out overcast days as potential sight fishing days.
While bright sunny days will offer you the best view into the water as well as the best chance of spotting fish, it will also offer problems. It will make your presence far more known for the Thai Mahseer; the fish will be looking up at you and can easily see your silhouette against a bright sky.
Overcast days can offer just as much in the way of sight fishing because of the lack of glare on the water. This will give you the added advantage of a sharper underwater picture and also will cut down on your above water silhouette which will lower the number of Mahseer that you spook.
Sight fly fishing, this is a style of fly fishing where details make all the difference. Clipping tag ends of knots off, hiding the hook eye and knot with the nose of the fly, which flies work exactly in this river, and many other small details like that can make or break a great fishing trip. If fly fishing is your thing there is nothing more rewarding than spotting a Mahseer, casting to it, and actually watching the Mahseer take the flies. If you're looking for a place where there are good chances of catching
big Thai Mahseer, you will love, the rivers of Cheow lan in
Khao Sok National Park.
